Heating apparatus



June 2, 1931. J. H. SHERTS HEATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1928 J H 5HERT5 lnvenror Bq his aflorne Saw Patented June 2 1931 UNITED STATES OFFICE JAMES H. snnn'rs, or GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T DU FONT VISCOLOID COMPANY, on WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A oonronn'rron 01 DELAWARE HEATING APPARATUS,

= Application filed October 27, 1928. Serial No. 315,440.

This invention relates to heating apparatus and has particularly to do with apparatus wherein articles, such as safety glass sand wiches, may be subjected to heat and pres- ,5 sure. lVhile not restricted to use in the manu facture of safety glass, the invention is described with more particular relation to that industry.

, In the manufacture of safety glass'a sandwioh is assembled comprising two sheets of glass with a sheet of strengthening material, such, for example, as a sheet of cellulose ester plastic, therebetween, and this sandwich is subjected to heat and pressure in order to 5 firmly unite the elements of the sandwich into a unitary article. The present appa ratus is of a type which enables it to desirably serve for the uniting of the elements of safety glass sandwiches.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by which articles may be subj ected to heat and pressure. A further object is to provide an apparatus whereby safety glass sandwiches may be subjected to heat and pressure, applied by a suitable fluid medium, to unite the elements of the sandwich. To these ends and also to improve generally upon apparatus of the character indicated, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the figures are of somewhat elementary character, Figure lis a top plan view of the container for the sandwiches and the fluid used forapplying heat and pressure to the sandwiches, with the cover of the container removed; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 1 with the side of the container broken out; Figure 4 is an elevational view, partially broken out to economize space,.of a bag for containing a sandwich when the sandwich is treated in the container; and Figure 5 is an elevational view of the upper end of a bag'such as that shown in Figure 4;, showing'the mechanism whereby the bag is closedand opened at its sandwichreceiving end.

Referring now to the drawings,the illustrated apparatus comprises in general a container 1 of any suitable material, say steel, 7

5, 5a, 5b, and 50, by partitions 6, 6a, 6b, and q extending from the bottom of the container and abutting the cover 2. Each ofthe quadrants is divided by any suitable number of partitions, asSa, 8b, and 80, into a series of compartments each for holding any desired number of bags 3. The various partitions are attached to, and extend between, the outer wall X and central cylindrical wall Y of the container. Each quadrant is provided with a liquid supply pipe 9,valved at 9a, 1 adjacent its bottom, and a liquid discharge pipe 10 adjacent its bottom. The partitions 8a, etc.,' alternately extend from the bottom of the container to short of the cover 2 i and from short of the bottom 11 of the container to a point in contact with the cover, as shown at 12 and 13 in Figure 3. The bags 3 are suitably attached to the cover, as by hooks 14 and 15, on the bag and V the cover respectively, thus: suspending the bags in the compartments of the container. so To permit escape ofair from the container when filling, avent pipe-7, valved at 7a, is 7 provided and connected, as at 7'6, with each quadrant. i j The apparatus may be used as follows. With thecover 2 removed from the container a desired number of bags 3 (e. g. a sufiicient number to fill all compartments), each containing a safety glass sandwich, is suspended j from the cover, a vacuum being desirably placed on each bag, the air exhausted from the bag,.and thebag sealed under vacuum, prior to the vbag being sealed in the container, as next explained. The cover is now placed upon the container, thus suspending the bags with their contained sandwiches in the compartments of the container, it being under stood that the bags are so located on the cover that they will mate with the various compartments. The cover'having been closedliquid 1.06v

tight upon the body of the container, water is now introduced into the quadrants to fill the same, the control valve 10a in the outlet 10 being closed, and the valve 7a open; and after filling, the Valve 7a is closed. The water is now heated to any desired temperature and flowed through the container under any desired pressure and in such volume as to keep the container full. (Conveniently this may be carried out by connection of the pipes 9 and 10 toa suitable heater and pressure pump, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the water flowing in at the pipe 9 and out at the pipe 10 and being returned to the pipe 9. through the heater and pressure pump.) The water passes through each quadrant and up and down over the partitions, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, The temperature andpressure will, of course,

varywith circumstances, but, as a general rule for safety glass of the type 'a-bove'indie cated, a pressure of 150 pounds per sq. in. upward and a temperature of, say, 250 F. are desirable. When the temperature and pressure have been sufliciently applied, say for 20 minutes, as will be understood by those familiar with the art of making safety glass, the water may be drawn out of the container, the cover lifted, and the sandwiches, with their elements now united, removed from the bags. 1

It will be noted that the described container and associated bags provide an apparatus which can be quickly loaded with a large number of sandwiches, so that not only may such a number of sandwiches be treated at one time, but also this munber of sand; wichesimay be quickly loaded into, and removed from, the receiver. Desirably three covers for a receiver may be provided, so that one maybe in the process of attaching the three baflies 8, etc, it will be understood that bags thereto, another will be in use upon the receiver while the sandwiches attached thereto are under treatment, and yet another will be in the process of having the bags removed therefrom. 1 a 1 While there is shown a container divided into four separated compartments, as 5 and so forth, it will be understood that the receivermay be divided into any desired number. Also, while the compartments 5, and so forth, are shown as each provided with as many bafliesas desired may be used.

I Convenlently, and as here shown, a number, as a pair 5 and 5a, ofthequadrants may be suppl ed from a single main supply pipe, and similarly .a number of quadrants, as 5 and 5a, may be drained by a'single outlet ipe. V p V I P The containers proper for the sandwiches, as the bag 3, may be of any suitable type. The illustrated bag comprises the. flexible rubber body 16 desirably providedwith metal ff ibinding l7, and having the closure desig mentioned hooks 14 for suspending the same i from the corresponding before mentioned hooks 15 on the top 2 of the container 1. Other suitable means for suspending the bag 3 may be used, as, for example, slide members replacing the hooks 14 and slidable in slide ways on the top 2 and replacing the hooks 15. A valve 3a for connection with a vacuum pump is provided at the bottom of the bag.

The illustrated closure designated generally as 18comprises a pair of yokes 19 and 19 to which thesides 20 and 20 of the bag 3 are attached, the sides as here illustrated being attached to the yokes at 21 and 21a by suitable fastening means as 22 and 22a, as

. shown in Figure 5. The yokes are hinged together at each side by a pivot bolt 23 carried by an ear 24. upon the yoke 19 and passing through the yoke 19a. For locking the yokes together, the yoke 19 carries pivoted thereto at 25 a swinging plate 26 providedwith a slot 27 for the reception of a bolt-like pin 28 carried by the yoke19a. The slot is of a contour to permit of the plate 26 to swing 7 While ZLVCOIIUHDQI divided into comparte ments and provided with battles has been shown, if desiredall partitions may be omitted from the container, steam coils placed in the bottom of the container for heating the water, and, convection of currents depended upon to circulate the water inthe container. Furthermore, cooling tubes nlay be placed in the top of the container for the circulation of brine or cold waterffor. the cooling of the water after treatment.

I claimzw r if 1. In an apparatus of: the character described, in combination, a fluid container 1m. ing a removable top, and means for suspending safety glass assemblies from said top to hang substantially verticallyin said icon; tainer, Y i

' 2. In an apparatus oflthe character described, in combination, a fluid container having a removable top, said top being pro .3. Inan apparatus of thechaifacter de-'' scribed, in combination, a fiuidcontainer hav mg aremovablet0p,.and'1neansf01 suspending safety glass assemblies fromsa1d top to 'top for said opening,

hang substantially vertically in said container; said container being provided with a series of baflies extending alternately from the bottom to short of the top, and from the top to short of the bottom, and being also provided With means for introducing and removing pressure-temperature fluid toand from said container to circulate through the same about said battles; and said suspending means being mated with the compartments formed by said bafiies to locate the suspended assembles in said compartments.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a fluid container having a removable top, means for supporting a safety glass assembly in said container for treatment therein, such means comprising a bag-like holder for reception of the assembly, and means for suspending such holder from the top of said container to hang vertically therein.

5. In an apparatus for the subjection of safety glass assemblies to heat and pressure to unit the elements thereof, in combination, a pressure-temperature fluid container having a removable top and having its body provided with a series of baffles extending alternately from the bottom of the container to short of the top thereof, and from the top to short of the bottom thereof, means for introducing and removing pressure-tempera ture fluid to and from said container to circulate through the same and about said baflies, means for supporting safety glass assemblies in said container, such means comprising baglike holders for reception of the assemblies, and means for suspending said holders from said top to hang therefrom, said suspending means being mated with the compartments formed by said baflies to locate the suspended assemblies in said compartments.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combinatiom-a fluid container having a removable top, a plurality of holders for the reception of articles to be treated in said container, said holders having a size and contour adapting them for substantially vertical side-by-side reception in said container and for insertion and withdrawal from the container by way of the top opening thereof, and means for circulating temperature-pressure fluid in vertical flow and counter flow in and out of said container and about said holders.

7. In an autoclave apparatus for the subjection of safety glass sandwiches, while vertically positioned, to the action of a temperature-pressure fluid; a container having a top opening for the introduction and Withdrawal of the sandwiches, and a removable said container being troducing and removing pressure-temperature fluid to and from sald container to cir JAMES H. SHEETS.

provided with a series of baflies extending v alternating from the bottom to short of the top, and from the top toshort of the bottom, and being also provided with means for in- 

